Railway switch operating apparatus



Oct. 16, 1934.

H. L. BONE RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1933 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Herbert b301 9.

BY mwvw 111s ATTORNEY Oct. 16, 1934.

H. L. BONE RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1933 3Sheets -She'et 2 e v. mm m MBJWO V T NL T g M W. 4 4 5 w x l u 8 w M v u2 9 H w n! w m J 5 n w M fifi 6 1 ."0 I P! 7 n H Oct-16, 1934. H. BONERAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1933 staresRAILWAYSWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Herbert L- Bone, Swissvile, Faassignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application April 25, 1933, Serial No.667,775

33 Claims. (01. 246-253) My invention relates to railway switchoperating apparatus, and particularly tomanually controlled switchoperating apparatus for switches of the type which are designed to betrailed.

One object of'my invention is to provide novel means whereby a switch ofthe type described may be positively locked in its normal position forfacing point moves over the switch but will become automaticallyunlocked when a train trails the switch.

- I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and willthen point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing a railwayswitch operated by a switch stand B, and provided with one form of lockmechanism M embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the apparatusshown in Fig. l as it appears when viewed from theleft in Fig. 1. Fig. 3is an enlarged View partly in section and partly in elevation of theswitch stand B forming part of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2.Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially "on the line IVIV of Fig.3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the facing point lockmechanism M and circuit controller C shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with thevarious covers removed to better illustrate the construction of theparts. Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken substantially on thelines VIVI andVII-VII, respectively, of Fig. 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of theseveral views. 7

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character A designates arailway switch comprising, as usual, two fixed rails l and 1 andtwomovable rails 2 and 2 The fixed rails 1 andl arelaid on tie plates 3,and are secured to crosstiesl in the usual manner. The movable rails 2and 2 are fastened together by a front rod 5, a head rod 6, a bridle rod'7 and a tie rod 8, and may be moved into a normalor a reverse positionby means of an operating rod 9'which is connected with the head rod 6.When the switch occupies its normal" position in which it is shown inFig. 1, the movable rail 2 engages the fixed rail 1, and the movablerail 2 is spaced a predetermined distance from the fixed rail 1 Whenthe'switch is reversed, however, the movable rail 2 then engages thefixed rail l and the movable rail 2 is spaced from the fixed rail 1. 7

Associated with the switch A is'a switch stand B comprising a box orcasing 11 (see Figs. 3 and 4) provided with two removable covers 13 and14,

and secured at its lower end to the outer ends of an adjacent pair ofthe crossties 4. The usual rotatable spindle or switch actuating shaft16 extends downwardly through the casing 11, and

carries at its lower end an adjustable crank. 17 which is pivotallyconnected with the previously described operating rod 9, the parts beingso proportioned that rotation of the shaft 16 through an angle ofapproximately so will move the switch. between its normal and reversepositions.

The lower portion of the shaft 16, that is, the portion within thecasing 11 is made roundand is journaled in a bearing 18 formed in thebottom of the casing 11, and in a star block 19 which, in turn isjournaled in a bearing 2'0 formed in the top of the casing 11. Theportion of the shaft 16 above the top of the star block bearing,however, is made square and has a somewhat smaller cross-sectional areathan the lower portion of the shaft. 7

Secured to the square portion of the shaft 16 is a square sleeve 21, andslidably mounted on this sleeve is an outer sleeve 22 which is providedwith a square opening to receive the inner sleeve so that both sleevesand the shaft are constrained to rotate together.

When the outer sleeve 22 occupies a lowermost position on the innersleeve, in which position it is shown in the drawings, a square portion23 formed on'the lower end of the outer sleeve enters a square recess01' socket 24 formed in the upper end of the star block 19, and underthese conditions the outer sleeve, and hence the shaft 16, is connectedwith the star block, so that any rotation of the shaft willcause'corresponding rotation of the star block. When, however, the outersleeve 22 is moved to an upper position on the inner sleeve, the squareportion 23 on the lower end of the outer sleeve becomes disengaged fromthe socket 2 i in the star block, and the two sleeves and the shaft arethen free to rotate'as a unit independently of the star block. I

The outer sleeve 22 is arranged to be moved between its two extremepositions by means of a hand lever 27 which also serves as a means forrotating the switch actuating shaft 16 between its two extremepositions. This leveris bifurcated at one end, and the bifurcations 27and 27 thereof are disposed on opposite sides of a square portion formedat the upper end of the outer sleeve, and are pivoted intermediate theirends on a pin or bolt 28 mounted in a lug 29' formed on the sleeve 21.Each bifurcation extends between a pair of lugs 30 which are se- 3.6 of:the. sleeve 36.

the outer sleeve will then be moved to its upperposition on the innersleeve. It follows that the.

switch actuating shaft 16 will be connected with, or disconnected from;the. starblhck I9 according as the lever 2'7 occupies its depending orits horizontal position, and that, when the lever occupies itshorizontal position, theshaft 16 may be rotated between its two extremepositions to move the switch points-to their cor responding extremepositions by rotating thelever about the axis of the shaft withoutcausing rotation of the star block.

Whenthe hand lever 2'7 occupies its depending. position, which positionis. its normal. position,,it may be locked in this position by placing apadlock 51 or other suitable locking device through a hole 527 formed inthe outer end of a. lug; 52: which is fastened; to the outer sleeve 22,and which passes through a suitable slot 53 in the lever 2'7.

A suitable signal, here shown as a pair of vanes 31,, positioned- 90with respect to each other in plan view, is fastened to the upper end ofthe' switch actuating shaft 16, and serves to accurately indicate at alltimes the position of the switch.

,The' star block 19 -is. constantly biased to.- the position. in whichit is shown in the drawings by means of two. biasing devices 32 and 33which: are disposed on opposite sides of. the star block as best seen inFig. 3. These biasing de- Vices-are similar,.-and-adescription ofqonewill therefore suffice for both. Referring particularly to the'biasingdevice 33, this biasing devicecomprisesarod: or bolt 34 supported. atone end ina wall of the casing 11, and: at the other end in an uprightsupport: 35 provided on the bottom of the casing 11. Two sleeves 36. and37. provided with annular flanges 36 and. 37, respectively, are slidablymounted on the bolt 34! with their flanges 36 and 3'7 facing each other,and positioned on the bolt between these sleeves isa coil. spring; 38which biases these sleeves to: the position. in. which the outer. end ofthe sleeve 36 engages one of a. pair of thrust washersr39! interposedbetween the sleeve and sleeve i=1 having; a flange 42 at one end whichengages: the: outer side of the flange 3'7 of the sleeve 37, and aremovable flange 43. at the other. end whichengages the outer side ofthe flange An upwardly projecting lug; 44 is. secured. to: the outersleeve 41,- as shown irr Fig. 3. I;

The lug' i i on. the biasing device 32 extends upwardlybetween tworollers 45 and 46 which I are, journals-d between; suitable spaced lugsformed onthe star block 19, and the lug 44' on the. outer sleeve of:the. biasing device 33 similarlyextends upwardly between two rollers 49and 50- which'are also journaled. between. the lugs.- on the star block,the four. rollers 45-, 46,.

I Surrounding the sleeves 36 and. 37 and the spring 38"is a. third 49and 50 being disposed at the four corners of a rectangle.

With the biasing devices constructed and connected with the star blockin the manner just described, it will be apparent that rotation of thestar block 19 in either direction from the position shown will cause thelugs 44cm the outer sleeves of the two biasing devices 32 and 33 torotate in opposite directions, thus compressing the springs within thebiasing devices. It follows that, when the star block has been rotatedaway from the positions shown, as soon as the. force which caused therotation of the star block is removed, the springs will act to restorethe star block to the position shown.

For reasons which will be made clear presently, it is desirable toprevent the biasing devices-from returning the star block to theposition shown at too rapid a rate after the star block has been movedaway from this position,

without interfering with the rotation of the star block away from theposition shown. For this purpose, the star block is pivotally connectedwith the piston rod of a dash. potor bufling device 56, the cylinder 57of which is pivotally attached to the left-hand wall of the casing 11 bymeans ofa pin 58 and a lug 59. The buffing device 56 forms no part of mypresent invention, and may be of any suitable type which will allow freeand unrestricted movement of the piston rod out of the cylinder, butwhich will retard movement of. the pistonrod into the cylinder. As hereshown, this buihng device is similar in all respects to the buffingdevice shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No.1,830,803, granted to William C. McWhirter, on Nov. 10, 1931, forRailway switch operating apparatus, and it is believed. to beunnecessary therefore to describe it in detail here.

The portion of the apparatus thus far described is similar in allrespects to apparatus which is now in wide-spread use, with the singleexception. that the bifurcations 2'7" and 2'7 of the hand lever 27 ofthe switch stand B have been lengthened somewhat for a purpose pres--ently to be described, and it is believed, therefore, that for purposesof the present disclosure, the following brief description of theoperation oithis apparatus will be suflicient. As shown in the drawings,the switch points are in their normal extreme position, and the handlever 27 is locked in its depending position by means of the padlock 51.Under these conditions, the sliding sleeve 22 is held in its lowermostposition onthe inner sleeve 21, so that the switch actuating shaft 16 isconnected with the star block 19, and the biasing devices 32 and 33 aretherefore effective to hold the switch points in their normal extremeposition. When it is desired to reverse-the switch points, the padlock51' is firstremoved from the hole 52 in the lug 52 to unlock the handlever, and the hand lever is then raised to its horizontal position,thereby disconnecting the star block 19 from the switch actuating shaft-16 in the manner previously described. The hand. lever 2'7 is nextrotated in the horizontal position which it then occupies through anangle of in a clockwise direction, after which it is again lowered toits depending position. The rotation of the hand. lever moves the switchpoints totheir reverse positions, while the lowering of the hand leverto its depending positionreconnects the star blockv 19 .with the switchactuating shaft. 16,

thus causing the switch points to become biased to their reversepositions. When the hand lever has been restored to its dependingposition it may, if desired, be relocked in this position by againinserting the padlock 51 in the hole 52 in the lug 52. The operation ofthe apparatus when the switch points are to be restored to their normalposition is exactly the reverse of that just described, and will beunderstood from the foregoing without further description.

If, when the switch points are in either extreme position, and the handlever is in its dependingposition, a train trails the switch, the wheelsof the train will force the switch points away from the extreme positionwhich they then occupy, and this'movement of the switch points, in turn,will rotate the crank arm 17, and hence the entire assembly ofconcentric members 16, 21 and 22 together with the star block 19. As waspreviously pointed out, when the star block 19 is. rotated, it operatesthe biasing devices 32 and 33 to compress the springs therein, and alsooperates the buffing device 56, with the result that'while the train istrailing the switch the biasing devices will constantly tend to returnthe switch points to the extreme position which they occupied before thetrain started to, trail the switch, and the bufimg device will act toretard the quick movement of the points by the biasing devices betweenthe passage of the successive wheelsof the train. After the train hascompletely passed the switch, however, the displacingiorce of the wheelswill then be removed,and the biasing devices will then slowly force theswitch points to the positions which they occupied before the traintrailed the switch.

Associated with the switch stand B is a facing point lock mechanism Membodying present invention, which lock mechanism I will now describe.As best seen in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, this mechanism; in the form hereshown, comprises a main casing 65 and an auxiliary casing 66. The maincasing 65 is bolted to the same pair of ties 4 to which the switch standB is bolted, at a point between the switch stand and the rail 1, whilethe auxiliary casing 66 is bolted to a tail-like projection 65 of themain casing 65. The upper end of the main casing 65 is closed by a'removable cover 6'2, and the upper end of the removable casing 66 isclosed by a hinged cover Reciprocably mounted within the main casing isa locking device '70 comprising two transversely disposed horizontal endmembers W and 7i) secured together in spaced relation by means of twoparallel bolt members 70 and le The one end member '70 is provided withan' integral rectangular locking plunger 70, while the other end member'70 is provided with a horizontal integral arm 70 and with a centrallylocated hole 70 The locking plunger "10 is mounted to slide inarr-axially extending rectangular guideway '71 formed in the top of thetail-like projection of the casing 65, and cooperates at its free endwith a lock-rod L which is slidably mounted, at right angles to thelocking plunger, within a transverse slot 72 formed in-the' tail-likeprojection 65 The lock rod L is of standard construction, and comprisestwo longitudinally .adjustable bars '73 and 'l l attached at one end tothe front rod 5 of the switch-A, and provided with registering notches75 so disposed that these notches will align with the locking plunger Zwhen and only when the switch occupies its normal extreme position inwhich it is shown in the drawings.

The locking device '20 is arranged to be mo 'ed in a manner which willbe described hereinafter, between a left-hand extreme position in whichthe locking plunger 70 is within the notches '75 in the lock rod L, anda right hand extreme position in which the locking plunger is withdrawnfrom the notches 75, and it will be apparent that when the lockingdevice is moved to the position in which the locking plunger is withinthe notches, the switch will be positively locked in. its normal extremeposition, but that, when the locking device is moved to the position inwhich the locking plunger is withdrawn from the notches in the lock rod,the switch will then be unlocked.

The bolt members 70 and 70 of the locking device 70 are slidably mountedin suitable holes or guideways 76 and '77, respectively, formed in asubstantially U -shaped bracket '28 (see Fig. 'l) which is bolted to thesides of the casing 65, and surrounding each bolt member between thebracket '78 and the end member '70 is a partly compressed coil s ring'79 which biases the looking device in the direction to cause thelocking plunger 2 0 to enter the notches in the lock rod L.

As shown in Fig. 5, the arm '70 attached to the end member 70 of thelocking device 7'0 is provided at its free end with bifurcations 70 and79 and journaled on a pin 80 mounted in these bifurcations is a roller81 which cooperates with a cam 82 attached to a rockshaft 83. Therockshaft '83 is journaled in suitable bearings 8-4 secured to the sidesof the casing 65, and is rotataend of a connectin rod 87, the upper endof which is connected to the free end of the bifurc'ations 27 of thehand throw lever 27 of the switch stand B, by means of a ball and socketconnection 88.

For reasons which will become apparent as the description proceeds, theparts are so proper tioned that when the switch is in its normal extremeposition and the hand lever 27 is in its depending position as shown inthe drawings, the biasing spr'ngs '79 will tend to drive the lockingdevice to an extreme position which is beyond the desired lockingposition. The locking device '70 is prevented from moving beyond thedesired lockingposltion under these conditions, however, by means oflinkage which connects the locking device with the tie rod 8. As hereshown, this linkage includes a plunger bolt 90 which extends with someclearance through the hole 70 in the end member 70 and the head of whichbolt engages the left-hand side of the end member '70, as viewed inFigs. 5 and 6. The threaded end of the plunger bolt 90 isadjustably connected by means of a turn buckle 91 (see Fig. 1) with one end of a link92, the opposite end of which link is connected with the long arm 93 ofa bell crank lever 93. The bell crank lever 93 is pivotally supported inthe crank stand 94, and has its short arm 93 pivotally connected withone end of an operating rod 95. The other end of the operating rod 95 isconnected with the. previously described tie rod 8' by' means of astandard switch basket 96. The plunger bolt 90, turn buckle 91, bellcranklever 93, operating rod 95, switch basket 96 and tie rod 8 alsoconstitute means for effecting the unlocking of. the switch points whenthe switch points'are in their normal positions and a train trails theswitch, as will be-made clear hereinafter.

The tie rod 8 may be located at any suitable location, but willpreferably be located approximately halfway between the. heel and thepoint of the switch. The base 97 of the crank stand 941s secured to abase plate.98 which, in turn, is secured to a tie strap 99.- One .end ofthe tie strap 99 is bolted to the casing. of the facing pointlockmechanism M and it will .be apparent, therefore, that any loss ofadjustment between the parts due to creepage of the ties is prevented. 1

Pivoted on a pin 100 (see Figs. 5 and 6) mounted in the outer end of anarm 101 which is formed integral with the bracket 73 directly belowthe-arm of the locking device'lO is a latch 102 having a nose 103,which, under certain conditions to be described hereinafter, cooperateswith a: latch finger 104 secured to the arm 70 to prevent the lockingdevice from mova depending arm 102 formed on the latch 102.

The latch plunger is constantly biased, in the pro-per direction tocause it to enter the recess 106, by means of a compressed coil-spring109 which abuts at one end against the bracket '78, and at the other-endagainst a lug 110 formed on the latch 102 between'the depending arm 102and a similar arm 102. The recess 106 in the lock rod L is so designedthat this recess will align with the latch plunger at all times exceptwhen theswitch occupies its extreme reverse position, or iswithin apredetermined distance'of this position, and the parts are soproportioned that when the latch plunger enters the recess 106, the:latch 102 will be rotatedto its normal position in. which it is showninthe drawings, and in which the nose 103 thereof is out of the path ofmovement of the latch'finger 104'. However, when thelatch plunger isforced out of the recess 106, the latch. 102 will then-be rotated in acoLmter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 7 tealatching position in which the nose 103 extends into the path ofmovement of the latch finger 104. The latch finger 104 is made of springmaterial so that if the latch should be rotated to the position in whichthe nose 103 is within the path of movement of the latch finger 104while the latch finger is directly above the latch', thelatch fingercan. be sprung up without damage to the latch mechanism. 7 V 1 i Thelock mechanism- M also: includes a circuit controller Cwhich circuitcontroller is. disposed wholly within the casing 66, and which can,therefore, be added to or removed from the lockingmechanismas desired;The details of construction of this circuit controller are similar in.all respects to those of the circuit controller described and claimed inmy copending application:for Letters Patent of the United StatesySerialNo. 651,933,.fi1ed January 16, 1933, for Railway'switch circuitcontrollers, and in themselves form no part of my present inven: tion;except as they are. used in combination with the rest of. the apparatus;Briefly, this. circuit controller includes two separate sets ofcontacts, one. set of which is usually referred to as plunger lockcontactsand the other set of which is usually referred to as pointdetector contacts. The plunge-flock contactsare each designated by-thereference characters 111-112, and are all controlled byacontactoperating member 113 pivotally attached to. one end. of a rocker arm114, which'rocker arm, in turn, is pivoted intermediate its ends on afixed pin 115, and is provided in the end opposite to the operatingmember 113-with a cam'slot 116and a cam face 116 thatcooperate witharoller 117 mounted in the upper end of a bracket 118 secured to theupper face of the'locking'plunger 70 mg device 70' occupies its lockingposition in which position it is shown in the drawings, the roller 117engages the cam slot ll6.at an offset portion 116*, and under theseconditions, the rocker arm 114 is rotated to. an extreme position inwhich the plunger lock contacts 111-l12 are all closed. When, however,the locking device '70 is moved in either direction from its normallocking position, the roll'er 117 is forced out'of the oifset portion116 of the cam slot 116, and the rocker arm 114 is then rotated toanother extreme position in which the plunger lock. contacts 111'--112are all open.

The point detector contacts of the circuit controllor C are eachdesignated by the reference characters 119-120, and are all controlledby a contact operating member 121 provided with a roller-122 whichcooperates with a notch 123 formed in a point detector rod D. The pointdetector rod D is slidably mounted in the casing 66 transverselythereof, and is'attached at one end by means of a link 124 and a boltmember 125 (see Figs. 1 and 2), to the movable rail 2 of the switch A inthe usual and well-known manner. The notch 123 in the point detector rodD is so positioned that it will align with the roller 122 when and onlywhen the switch occupies its normal position and the movable rail 2 istight against the associated fixed rail 1, and the parts are soproportioned that when the notch 123 aligns with the roller 122, thisroller will enter the notch, thereby permitting the contact operatingmember 121 to rotate by gravity to a position in which it is out ofengagement with'the contact fingers 120 of the point detector con-- 1tacts, and hence permitting these contacts toclose'. When, however, theroller 122 is forced out of the notch 123, the contact operating member121 will then be positively rotated to the position in which the pointdetector contacts become opened. I g

V The circuit controller C further comprises lock mechanism whereby, if'the'roller 122 is forced out of the notch 123 in the pointdet'ector rodD when the locking device 70 occupies any-pcsition in which the lockingplunger '70 is within the notches in the lock rod L, the-point detectorcontacts will, after becoming opened'in the'niaimer previouslydescribed, subsequently be held open until the latch mechanism ismanually operated to permit these contacts to again be come closed. Thislatch mechanism is fully described in my above referred to copendingapplication, Serial No. 651,933, and need not there- When the lockforebe desciibedhere. The plunger lock con-' acrea e tacts and pointdetector contacts of circuit controller C may be used to control signalsgoverning trains over switch A in a well-known manner.

'ljhe' operation of the apparatus as a whole is as follows: When theswitch A occupies its normal position and the hand lever 27 is in itsde'pres pos ion as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the parts of the -o lmechanism occupy the poemcee in wlii they are shown in Figs. 5 and 6.That is to say, tlocking device 70 occupies its normal lee-kingposition, the latcli plunger 105 within the recess 106 in the lock rodL, and the rockshaft 83 is rotated in a clockwise direction to itsnormal extreme position. Furthermore, under these conditions, theplunger lock contacts 111- 112, and the point detector contacts 119120of circuit controller C are both closed. It follows, therefore, thatwhen the switch'oocupies its normal position and the hand lever 27 is inits depressed position, the switch points will be positively locked intheir normal positions and both sets of contacts of circuitcontrcller Cwill then be closed, thus causing the signals governing traffic overswitch A to indicate that the switch is then in proper condition formain line traiilc over the switch. 1 Iwill now assume that a switchman,wishing to reverse the switch, operates the switch stand B in the mannerpreviously described; that is to say, he first raises the hand lever 27from its depressed position to its horizontal position, then swings thehand lever in a horizontal position (high an arc of substantially 90 ina clocke direction from the position shown in Fig. 1,

5 g finally restores the hand lever to its depressed position. When theswitchman raises thehand lever to its horizontal position, the starblock ,19, of course, becomes disconnected from the switch actuatingshaft 16, and in addition, the connecting rod 87 which connects theswitch stand with the lock mechanism M is forced downwardly, thuscausing the crank arm 85, and hence the -1' ick shaft 83, of the lockmechanism M to rotate in a counte -clockwise direction from the extremeposition shown in Fig. 6, through an angle of approximately The initialpart of this rotation causes the cam 82 to move into engagement with theroller 81, and as the rockshaft continues to rotate, the roller 81, dueto the shape of the cam 82, is forced toward the right, thus moving thelocking device toward the right in opposition to the bias of the springs'79, to a position in which the locking plunger 70 is just clear of thenotches '75 in the lock rod L, and hence unlocking the switch. As waspreviously pointed out, as soon as the locking device '10 is moved awayfrom its normal locking position, the plunger lock contacts 111-112 ofcircuit controller C become opened, thereby causing the signalsgoverning tramc over the switch to indicate danger. It follows,therefore, from the foregoing that when the hand lever 27 is moved fromits depressed position to its horizontal position, it not onlydisconnects the star block 19, and hence the biasing devices 32 and 33and buffing device 56, from the switch actuating shaft 16, but alsooperates the lock mechanism M to unlock the switch, and the plunger lockcontacts 111-412 of circuit controller C to indicate that the switch isthen unlocked. When the switchrnan next swings the hand lever in itshorizontal position through an arc of substantially 90 in a clockwisedirection from the position shown in Fig. 1, the movable rails of theswitch are reversed in the manner previously described, and therockshaft 83, due to the angular relation between the connecting rod 87and the crank arm is simultaneously rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 6, through the balance of its stroke to theopposite extreme position from that shown. During a part of this latterrotation of the rockshaft 83 the roller 81 will remain in engagementwith the cam 32, but before this rotation is completed, the simultaneousmovement of the switch points to their reverse positions will actthrough the linkage which connects the locking device 70 with the tierod 8, to move the locking device to a pe sition in which the roller 81is out of engagement with the cam 82. It should be noted that when thelocking device is moved to this latter position, the latch finger 104will be some distance (about one nch in actual practice) to the right ofthe nose 103 of the latch 102. The cam 82 is so shaped that even if theroller 81 re mained in engagement with the cam 82 during the totalamount of this latter rotation of the rockshaft, this engagement of theroller with the rockshaft would not cause any movement of the lockingdevice '70 in either direction. The movement of the switch points totheir reverse po sitions, in addition to actuating the linkage connectedwith the tie rod 8 and the locking device '70, moves the lock rod L andpoint detector rod D upwardly as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5. The initialpart of the upward movement of the point detector rod D causes thecontacts 119-120 of circuit controller C to become opened in the mannerpreviously described, while the final part of the upward movement oflock rod L forces the latch plunger 105 out of recess 106 in lock rod L,thereby rotating latch 102 to its latching position. When the latch isrotated to this position, the latch finger 104 will be some distance tothe right of the nose of the latch for the reasons pointed out above,and it will be seen, therefore, that the latch is freeto move to itslatching position under these conditions without any interference fromthe latch finger.

When the operator next restores the hand lever- 2-7 to its dependingposition, thus reconnecting the star block 19, and hence the biasingdevices 32 and 33 and buffing device 56 with the switch actuating shaft16, the rockshaft 83 will be moved partway toward the extreme positionshown in the drawings, but this movement of the rockshaft will notafiect the remainder of the lock mechanism because the locking device 70will then be held in its extreme right-hand position in which the roller81 is out of engagement with the cam 82, by means of the linkage whichcon: heats the locking device'with the tie rod 8.

After the switch has been reversed in the manner previously described,if the switch stand B is then operated to restore the switch to its nor-'mal position, the subsequent movements of the parts will be exactly thereverse of those just described, and it is believed, therefore, that theoperation of the apparatus under these conditions will be readilyunderstood from the forei:

going and from an inspection of. the drawings without furtherdescription.

I will now assume that the parts are in the positions in which they areshown in the drawings, and that atrain trails the switch. As the leadingwheels of the train roll along the fixed rail 1 and movable rail 2 themovable rails 2 and 2 are forced over laterally, but before a sufficientforce is developed at thepoints of these rails to overcome theopposingforce of s in the drawings.

the biasing devices 32 and 33 of the switch stand B and cause the pointof the movable rail 2 to move out of engagement with the fixed rail 1,the movable rails, being somewhat resilient, become bent, so that withthe usual standard split switch, the tie rod 8 will be moved upwardly,as viewed inFig. 1, three-quarters of an inch or more. This movement ofthe tie rod 8 acts through the linkage connecting the tie rod with thelocking device '70 to move the locking device in opposition to the biasof the springs '79 a sufiicient amount to completely withdraw thelocking plunger '10 of the locking device from engagement with thenotches '75 in the lock rod L, thus unlocking the switch, and alsooperating the plunger lock contacts l11112 of circuit controller C toopen these contacts. It will be seen, therefore, that when the leadingwheels of the train have reached the position in which a sufficientforce is developed to cause the point of the movable rail 2 to move outof engagement of the fixed rail 1, the movable rails will be fullyunlocked, and the movable rails will thereforebe forced away from theirnormal position in the same manner as'if nopoint lock were provided. Asthe movable rails move away from their normal position, the shaft 16 ofthe switch stand Bis rotated in'the manner previously .described, sothat the biasing devices 32 and 33 now tend to constantly restore theswitch points to theirnormal position, and the buffing device 56 acts toprevent the quick return of the points to their normal position betweenthe passage of the successive wheels of the train. Furthermore, therotation of the shaft 16 causes the hand lever 2'7 to rotate therewith,and this-latter rotation causes the upper end of the connecting rod 87to swing in an arc whose center is the axis of the shaft 16, therebyforcing the crank arm'85 downwardly from the position shown in thedrawings, and hence rotating. the rockshaft 83.and the cam 82 a certainamount in a counter-clockwise direction from the positions in whichthese last mentioned members are shown The rotation of these lastmentioned members, however, has no effect on thelocking device 70because when this rotation takes place, the locking device will alreadyhave been moved tothe position in which the roller 80 is clear of thecam 82 by means of the linkage which connects the tie rod 8With thelocking device, as will be readily understood from the foregoing andfrom an inspection of the drawings. The movementof the movable railsaway from their normal position, in addition to rotating the switchactuating shaft 16 and-associated parts as just described, also movesthe point detector rod D and lock rod L upwardly as viewed in Fig. 1.This upward movement of the point detector rod D opens the pointdetector contacts ofcircuit controller C in the same manner as when theswitch ismanually moved from its normal extreme position by means of theswitch stand 13. The upward movement of the lock rod L, however, has noeffect on the remaincler of the apparatus unless the movable rails aremoved substantiallyto their full reverse positions, under whichconditions the latch plunger 105 will'be forced-out of'the recess 106 inthe lock rodL, thereby moving, the latch 102 to its latching position.After the train has completelypassed the switch, the displacing force ofthe wheels will be removed, and the biasing devices 32 and 33 of theswitch stand B will 'then slowly return the movable rails to theirnormalpositions in themanner' previously de scribed. If the movablerails are in their extreme reverse positions, or only a short distanceaway from their extreme reverse positions, at the beginning of thisreturn movement, the first part of this movement will cause the recess106 in look rod L to move into alignment with latch plunger 105, andwhen this happens, spring 109 will restore latch 102 to its normalposition in which it is shown in the drawings. The first part of thereturn movement of the rails will also permit the springs '79 to movethelocking device 70 a certain amount toward its locking position. Theparts are so proportioned, however, that before the locking device hasmoved far enough toward its locking position under these conditions tomove latch finger 104 to the position in which it would engage the latch102 if the latch were then in its latchingposition,

the latch will have had ample time to drop down to its normal position.It will be apparent, thereforathat the latch will have no effectwhatever on the remainder of the apparatus when a train trails theswitch in the normal position of the switch. As the movable railscontinue their return movement, the locking device 70 will continue tomove toward its locking position by virtue of the bias of the springs'79 until it is stopped by engagement of roller 81 with cam 82. Cam 82,however, is being simul- .tane'ously returned to its normal position, ina manner which will be readily understood from an inspection of thedrawings, and due to the previously described clearance which exists between cam 82 and roller 81 when the movable rails of .the switch occupytheir full normal position, it will be apparent that sometime before themovable rails have reached their full normal position, thecam will moveoutof engagement with the roller 81. Since there is no deflection of themovable rails under these conditions it follows that when the cam 82moves out of engagement with the roller 81, the springs '79 will movethelocking device '70 to the position in which locking plunger '20engages the side of lock rod L. The locking plunger will then slidealong the side of the lock rod L until the switch points reach theirfull normal position in which the notches in the lock rod align with thelocking plunger, whereupon the compressed springs '79 will force thelocking device 70 to its normal locking position, thus relocking theswitch in its normal position. If the notches 75 should not come intoalignment with the locking plunger under these conditions for anyreason, or if the notches should come into alignment. with the lockingplunger. and the linkage which connects the locking device '70 with thetie rod 8 is then out of adjustment, so that the locking plunger isprevented from moving to its normal locking position, or is permitted tomove beyond its normal locking position, contacts 111-112 of circuitcontroller C will remain open, thus causing the signals controlled bythe circuit controller to remain at danger. Furthermore, if while thetrain is trailingthe switch the switch point 2 should become bent ordamaged, so that when the movable rails have returned to their normalposition, the switch point 2 failed to assume its proper position withrespect to the fixed rail 1, the point detector contacts 119120 ofcircuit controller C would remain open, which would cause the signalscontrolled by circuit controller C to remain at danger. It follows,

therefore, that with apparatus embodying my.

Leo

invention," i1nder no conditions can a dangerous condition exist due toa train trailing the switch when .the'switch occupies its normalposition.

I will now assume that switch A has been moved to its reverse positionby means of the switchstand B in. the manner previously described, andthata train trails the switch. As will beremembered, when the switchoccupies its reverse position, locking device '70 is held in its extremeright-hand position so that the switch is then unlocked, and the latchfinger 104 is some distance to the right of latch 102.

Furthermore, under these conditions, latch 102 is held in its latchingposition due to latch plunger 105 being forced in recess 106 out of lockrod L, and rockshaft 83 is rotated partway from the extreme positionshown in the drawings toward its other extreme positionby virtue of theconnection between the crank arm and hand lever 27. As the leadingwheels of the train. roll along fixed rail 1 and movable rail 2, themovable rails become bent in much the same manner as they become bentwhen the switch occupies. its normal position and a train trails theswitch, but this bending is now in the direction to allow the biasingsprings 79 to move the locking plunger '70 toward its locking position.As a result, under these conditions, before the points of the movablerails have moved far enough to cause the recess 1% in the, loci; rod Lto move into alignment with the latch plunger 105, the locking device'79 will have moved to the position in which the latch finger 104engages the nose 103 of latch 102. .The shape of the nose 103 and theangle at which the latch finger 104 is disposed are such that, after thelatch finger has once moved into engagement with the latch, the spring1&9 will not be sufficiently. strong to move the latch out of engagement with the latching finger. It will be apparent, therefore, thatafter the latch finger has -moved into engagement with the latch plunger105, further movement of the locking device toward its locking positionwill be prevented. -t follows that under these conditions, there is nopossibility of. locking device 70 movingv to its locking position andlocking the movable rails in their normal position in the event thatthese rails are forced to their full normal positions by the trailingtrain. The movement of the movable rails away from their reversepositions will, of course, rotate shaft 16 of switch stand 13, so thatthe biasing devices 32 and 33 will constantly tend to restore themovable rails, to their reverse positions, and the buffing device willoperate to prevent too rapid movement of the movable rails toward theirreverse positions between the passage of the successive wheels or" thetrain. The rotation of shaft 16 will also cause a certain amount ofrotation of rockshait 83 but, due to the pr viously describedcooperation between latch 102 and latch finger 104, roller 81 does notat any time come in contact with cam 82, and the movement of rockshait83 under these condi tions does not, therefore, have any effect on theremainder of the apparatus. When the switch points finally return totheir r verse positions after the train has completely trailed theswitch, the linkage which connectsthe locking device'70 with the tie rod8 will move the look ing device '70 in opposition to the bias of thespring 'le to its extreme right hand position, and when this happens,latch finger 104 will move out of engagement with nose 103 of latch 102.

Latch 102, however, will remain in its latching position because recess106 and lock rod L will then be out of alignment with latch plunger 105.

One advantage of railway switch operating apparatus embodying myinvention is that since the switch stand and locking mechanisms areseparate and are operatively connected together by means of an externalconnection, the locking mechanism can be added to switches which arealready provided with switch stands of the type described, withoutchanging any part of the switch stand except the handle.

Another advantage of switch operating appa'ratus embodying my inventionis that it provides means for positively locking the switch in itsnormal position when the switch is moved to this position by the switchstand but eliminates any possibility of the locking mechanism improperlylocking the switch in its normal position in the event that the switchis moved to its normal position from its reverse position by a traintrailing the switch.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of railwayswitch operating apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be made therein within the scopeof the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scopeof myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a spring switch, means for moving the switchbetween its two extreme positions, loosing mechanism constantly biasedto a locking position and normally eiiective when the switch is moved toone extreme position for positively locking the switch in said oneextreme position, and means for preventing the switch from becominglocked in said one extreme posh tion in the event that said switch ismoved to said one extreme position from its other extreme for moving theswitch between" its normal and reverse positions, locking mechanismbiased to a locking position and effective when in its locking positionfor locking the switch in its normal extreme position, and meanscontrolled in part by the lateral bending of the movable rails whichtakes place when the switch occupies its reverse position and a traintrails the switch for preventing said locking mechanism from moving toits locking position whdle the train is trailing the switch.

i. In combination with a spring switch, means for moving the movablerails of said switch between their normal and reverse positions, a

lock rod connected with the movable rails for movement therewith,locking mechanism biased to alocking position and cooperating with saidlock rod for normally locking the movable rails when the movable railsoccupy their normal po sition, and means controlled in part by said lookrod and in part by the lateral bending of the movable rails which takesplace when a train trails the switch for preventing said lockingmechanism from moving to its locking position if the movable rails aremoved to theirnormal position from their reverse positions by a traintrailing the switch. a I

5. .In combination with a spring switch, a lock rod'connected with theswitch'and provided with a notch, a locking plunger movable to a lockingposition in which said locking plunger enters the notch in said lock rodwhen and only when the switch occupies its normal position, means forconstantly biasing said locking plunger to its locking position, meansfor moving said looking plunger to an unlocking position when the switchoccupies its normal position and a train trails the switch, manuallyoperable means for moving said switch 'to its normal and reversepositions, and means for preventing said locking plunger from moving toits locking position except when said switch is moved to its normalposition by said manually operable means or when the switch has returnedto its normal position after it has been moved away from this positionby a train trailing the switch.

6'. In combination witha spring switch, means for moving the switchbetween normal and reverse positions, a lock rod provided with a notchand with a recess, a locking plunger movable. to a'locking position inwhich it enters the notch in said lock rod when and only when the switchoccupies its normal extreme position, and means controlled in part bythe recess in said lock rod for preventing said locking plunger frommoving to its locking position in the event that said switch is moved toits normal position from its reverse position by a train trailing theswitch.

7. In combination with a spring switch, a lock rod connected with one ofthe movable rails of said switch and provided with a notch and with arecess, a locking plunger adapted to enter said notch in said lock rodwhen and only when said one movable rail occupies one extreme positionto lock said one movable rail in said one extreme position, means forbiasing said locking plunger to the position in which it enters saidnotch, linkage connected with said "locking plunger and adapted to beactu-. ated by the wheels of a train which is trailing the switch whensaidon'e movable rail occupies said one extreme position for withdrawingsaid locking plunger from the notch in said lock rod to unlock said onemovable rail, and means controlled in part by said recess for preventingsaid one movable rail from becoming locked in said one extreme positionif it is moved to said one extreme position from its reverse position bya train trailing the switch.

8. In combination with a spring switch, a

lock rod connected with one, of the movable rails of said switch andprovided with a notch and with a recess, a'locking plunger adapted toenter said notch in said lock rod when and only when said one movablerail occupies one extrain trails the switch for preventing saidonemovable rail frombecoming locked insa'id one extremeposition if it ismoved to said one extreme position from its reverse position by thetrailing train. i

9. In combination with a spring switch, a

lock rod connected with one of the movable rails of said switch andprovided with a notch and with .a recess, a locking plunger adapted toenter said notch in said lock rod when and only when said one movablerail occupies one extreme position to lock said one movable rail in saidone extreme position, means for biasing said locking plunger to theposition in which it enters said notch, linkage connecting said lookingplunger with both movable rails at a point approximately halfway betweenthe 'heel and the point of the switch and responsive to the lateralforces which are set up in 'themovable rails when said one 'movable railoccupies said one extreme position and a train trails the switch forwithdrawing said locking plunger from the notch in said lock rod tounlock said one movable rail, and means controlled in part by said'recess and in part by said linkage for preventing said one movable railfrom becoming locked in said one extreme position if it is moved to saidone extreme position from its reverse position by a train trailing theswitch.

10. In combination with a spring switch, means for moving the movablerails of said switch to their extreme positions, a lock rod connectedwith one of the movable rails and provided with a recess, a lockingplunger adapted to be moved into locking engagement with said lock rodwhen and only when the movable rails occupy one extreme position, meansfor constantly biasing said locking plunger "to its locking position,linkage connecting the-movable rails with said locking plunger'andadapted *to be actuated mechanically by a train which is trailing theswitch when'the movable rails occupysaid one=extreme position forwithdrawing said locking plunger from engagement. with said lock 'rod,and means cooperating with said recess for preventing said lockingplunger from moving to its lockingv position when said movable rails aremoved to'said one extreme position from the other extreme position by atrain trailing the switch.

1L 'In combination with a spring switch, means for moving the movablerails of said switch to their extreme positions, a lock rod connectedwith one of the movable rails, a locking plunger adapted to be movedinto locking engagement with said lock rod when and only when said onemovable rail occupies its one extreme position, means for constantlybiasing said'locking plunger to its locking position, linkage connectedwith said locking plunger and adapted to be actuated mechanically by atrain "which is trailing the switch when said one movable rail occupiesits one extreme position for withdrawing said locking plunger fromengagement with said lock rod, and means controlled in part by said lockrod for preventing said locking plunger from moving to its lockingposition when said one movable rail is moved to its one extreme position'from its other extreme lit!) position and cooperating in its lockingposition with said lock rod to lock the switch in its nor mal position,means for constantly biasing said locking plunger to its lockingposition, a tie rod connected with the movable rails at a pointapproximately midway between the heel and the point of the switch,linkage connecting said tie rod and said locking plunger so designedthat when the switch occupies its normal position and a train trails theswitch the lateral bending of the movable rails which takes place beforesaid lock rod is moved will cause said locki g plunger to be movedtoward its extreme unloc.. ing position far enough to unlock the switchand that when the switch is moved to its reverse position said lockingplunger will be moved in opposition to its bias from its lockingposition to its extreme unlocking position, but that, when the switchoccupies its reverse position and a train trails the switch the lateralbending of the movable rails which takes place before said lock rod ismoved will permit said locking plungor to be moved partway from itsextreme unlocking position toward its locking position 'by said biasingmeans, a latch movable between a normal and a latching position, meanscooperating with said recess in said lock rod for moving said latch toits latching position when and only when the movable rails are in theirreverse positions or are within a predetermined distance of theirreverse positions, and a latch finger connected with said lockingplunger and cooperating with said latch in such manner that the movementof said locking plunger toward its locking position which takes placedue to the bending of the rails when a train trails the switch in thereverse position of the switch will cause said latch finger to engagesaid latch in its latching position and prevent said locking plungerfrom moving to its locking position, wh reby it the rails are forced totheir full normal positions by a trailing train the switch will remainunlocked, but that if the switch is moved to its normal position by saidmoving means said switch will become automatically locked in its normalposition.

13. In combination with a spring switch, a manually operable lever,means controlled by said lever for moving the switch between its twoextreme positions, a lock rod connected with themovable railsof saidswitch and provided with a notch, a locking plunger adapted to alignwith the notch in said lock rod when and only when said switch occupiesone extreme position and movable between a locking position in whichsaid'phmger enters the notch in said lock rod and an unlocking positionin which the plunger is withdrawn from the notch in said loci; rod,means for constantly biasing said looking plunger to its lookingposition, means actuated by a train approaching said switch in atrailing direction when said switch occupies said one extreme positionfor moving said lock rod from its looking to its unlocking positionuntil after the train has trailed the switch, a roller attached to saidlocking plunger to move therewith, a rotatable rockshaft, a cam securedto said rockshaft and cooperating with said roller for moving saidlocking plunger from its looking position to its unlocking position inresponse to rotation of said rockshaft in one irection through apredetermined angular distance, and means controlled by said manuallyoperable lever for rotating said rockshaft in said one direction lthrough a suificient angular distance to move said locking plunger toits unlocking position prior to movement of said switch from said oneextreme position by said lever.

14. In combination with a spring switch, a

manually operable lever, means controlled by said lever for moving theswitch between its two extr me positions, a lock od connected with themovable rails of said switch a :rovided with a notch, a locking plungeradapted to align vf' 'n the notch in said lock rod when and only on saidswitch occupies one extreme position movable between a locking positionin which i" plunger enters the note said lock position in which theplunger loin the notch in said loci: rod, tantly biasing said lockingpin or to its locking position, means actuated by a train approachingswitch in a trailing di rection when said switch occupies said orextreme position for moving said locl: rod i looking to its unlockingposition until after train has trailed the switch, a roller connectedwith said locking plunger to move therewith, a rotatable rockshait, acam secured to said rocl:- shaft and cooperating with said roller in ingsaid locking plunger from its locking p" to an unlocking position inresponse to .tion of said rockshaft in one direction thro'c" pidetermined angular distance, means entrolled by said manually operablelever for rotat ng rockehaft in said one direction through a sun cientangular distance to unlock said sv itch to movement of said switch fromsaid one treme position bysaid lever, and means for preventing saidlocking plunger from me a to its locking position in the event the swtch is moved to said one extreme position fr its other extreme positionby a train trailing the switch.

15. In combination with a switc 1, a manually operable lever, means saidlever for moving t -e switch between s extreme positions, a lock rodconnected icvable rails of said switch and provided with notch, alocking plunger adapted to align with the notch in said lock rod whenonly when said switch occupies one extreme position and movable betweena locking position in which said plunger enters thenotch in said loci:rod an unlocking position in which the plunger is withdrawn from thenotch in said lock rod, means for constantly biasing said locking plunor to its locking position, means acti b train approaching said switchin a trailing direction when said switch occupies said one extremeposition for moving said loci: rod om look-- ing to its unlockingposition until after the train has trailed the switch, a roller attachedto locking plunger to move therewith, a rotatable rockshaft, a camsecured to said rocl"""it cooperating with said roller for lockingplunger from its locking position to an unlocking position in responseto rotation of s roclrshaft in one direction through a :znined angulardistance, means contr led V, said manually operable lever for rota grockshaft in said one direction through a suiticient angular distance tounlock said switch prior to movement of said switch from said oneextreme position by said lever, means controlled in part by said lockrod for preventing said locking plunger from moving to i lookingposition in the event the switch is controlled by said i stand includinga switch stand. casing, a manually operable lever rotatable in twoplanes, means in said casing responsive to rotation of said lever in oneplane for moving said switch between its extreme positions, biasing andbuffing devices in said casing; means respomive to rotation of saidlever in the other plane for connecting said biasing and bufling deviceswith and disconnecting said biasing and buffing devices from. saidswitch; said biasing devices being effective when connected with saidswitch for biasing said switch to one ext eme position or the otheraccording to the extreme position which the switch occupies when saiddevices become connected with the switch, and said buffing device beingeifective when connected with said switch for retarding movement of saidswitch by said biasing devices, the combination with the aforementionedinstrumentalities, of a lock mechanism including a lock mechanismcasing, a locking device in said casing biased to a locking position andeffective when in its locking position for locking the switch points inone extreme position, a cam in said casing cooperating with said lockingdevice for at times moving said locking device from its locking positionto an unlocking position, means controlled by said manually operablelever for controlling said cam, and means independent of said cam for attimes moving said locking device from its locking to its unlockingposition. i

17. In combination, a railway switch, a switch stand including a switchstand casing, a manually operable lever rotatable in two planes, meansin said casing responsive to rotation of said lever in one plane forrotating said switch between its extreme positions, biasing and buffingdevices in' said casing; means responsive to rotation of said lever inthe other plane for connecting said biasing and buffing devices with anddisconnecting said biasing and buffing devices from, said switch; saidbiasing devices being effective when connected with said switch forbiasing said switch to the extreme position which the switch thenoccupies, and said bumng device being effective when connected with saidswitch for retarding movement of said switch by said biasing devices,the combination with the aforementioned instrumentalities of a lockmechanism including a lock mechanism casing, a locking device in saidcasing biased to a locking position and effective when in its lockingposition for locking the switch points in one extreme position, a cam insaid casing cooperating'with said locking device for at times movingsaid locking device from its locking position to an unlocking position,means controlled by said manually operable lever for controlling saidcam, and means effective when the switch occupies one extreme positionand a train trails the switch for moving said locking device to itsunlocking position.

18. In combination, a railway switch, a switch stand comprising aswitch'stand casing, a vertical switch actuating shaft journaled in saidcasing and operatively connected with said switch in such manner thatsaid switch may be moved between its normal and reverse positions byrotating said shaft between two extreme positions, a love provided withbifurcations which straddle said shaft, means for pivotally attachingsaid lever to said shaft intermediate the ends of said bifurcations insuch manner that said lever is free to rotate relative to said shaftbetween two extreme positions in a vertical plane but that said shaftmay be rotated between its two extreme positions by rotating said leverabout the axis of shaft, means for preventing said lever 'rom beingmoved to its lower extreme position in said vertical plane except whensaid shaft occupies one or the other of its extreme positions, and meanseffective when said lever is moved to its lower extreme position forconnecting with said shaft me r for biasing said shaft to the extremepolitlei which it then occupies and means for retardi' movement of saidshaft by said biasing means, the combination with the aforementionedinstrumentalities of a locking mechanism comprising a lock mechanismcasing, a lock rod secured to the movable rails of said switch andslidably mounted in' said casing and provided with a notch, a'lockingdevice reciprocably mounted in saidcasing at right angles to said lockrod and provided with alocking plunger which aligns with said notch whenand only when said switch occupies its normal position, said lockindevice being movable between a locking position in which said lockingplunger enters the notch in said lock rod and an unlocking position inwhich saidgplunger is withdrawn from the notch said lock rod, means forbiasing said locking device to its locking position, a rockshaftjournaled in said casing, a crank arm secured to said rockshaft, aconnecting rod connected with said crank arm and with one of thebifurcations of said lever by ball and socket connections, wherebyrotation of said lever in said vertical plane will cause correspondingrotation of said rockshaft, a roller secured to said locking device, acam secured to said rockshaft and cooperating with said roller in suchmanner that when said rockshaft is rotated in response to movement ofsaid lever from its lower extreme position to its other extreme positionsaid cam will engage said roller and move said locking device inopposition to its bias from its locking position to its unlockingposition, and means independent of said lever controlled means for attimes mcving said locking device from its looking to its unlockingposition to permit a train to trail the switch.

19. In combination, a railway switch, a switch stand comprising a switchstand casing, a vertical switch actuating shaft journaled in said casingand operatively connected with said switch in such manner that saidswitch may be moved between its normal and reverse positions by rotatingsaid shaft between two extreme positions, a lever provided withbifurcations which straddle said shaft, means for pivotally attachingsaid lever to said shaft intermediate the ends of said bifurcations insuch manner that said lever is free to rotate relative to said shaftbetween two extreme positions in a vertical plane but that said shaftmay be rotated between its two extreme positions by rotating said leverabout the axis of said shaft, means for preventing said lever from beingmoved to its lower extreme position in said vertical plane except whensaid shaft occupies one or the other of its extreme positions, and meanseffective when said lever is moved to its lower extreme position forcorn necting with said shaft means for biasing shaft to the extremeposition which it then occupies and means for retarding movement of saidshaft by said biasing means, the combination with the aforementionedinstrumentalities of a locking 'mechanism comprising a lock HIE-sh anismcasing, a lock rod secured to the movable its lower extreme position toits other extreme rails of said switch and slidably mounted in saidcasing and provided with a notch, a locking device reciprocably mountedin said casing at right angles to said lock rod and provided with a,locking plunger which aligns with said notch when and only wh n saidswitch occupies its normal position, said locking device being movablebetween a locking position in which said locking plunger enters thenotch in said lock rod and an unlocking position in which said lockingplunger is withdrawn from the notch in said lock rod, means for biasingsaid locking device to its locking position, means operatively connectedwith the outer end of one of the bifurcations of said lever for movingsaid locking device from its looking to its unlocking position when saidlever is moved from its lower extreme position to its oti er extremeposition in said vertical plane, a tie rod connecting the movable railsof the switch at a point approximately midway between the heel and thepoint of the switch, and linkage connecting said tie rod and saidlocking device so designed that when the switch occupies its normalposition and a train trails the switch the lateral bending of themovable rails takes place before a force is developed at the points ofthese rails which is suflicient to overcome the force of the biasingmeans tending to hold the points of the rails in their normal positionswill cause said locking plunger to be mover from its looking to itsunlocking position.

26. In combination, a railway switch, a switch stand comprising a switchstand casing, a vertical switch actuating shaft journaled in saidcasoperativeiy connected with said switch in such manner that saidswitch may be moved between its normal and reverse positions by rotatingsaid shaft between two extreme positions, a lever provided withbifurcations which straddle said shaft, means for pivotally attachingsaid iev to said shaft intermediate the ends of'said bifurcations insuch manner that said lever is free to rotate relative to said shaftbetween two extreme positions in a vertical plane but that shaft may berotated between its two exti cnie positions by rotating'said lever aboutthe axis of said shaft, means for preventing said lever from being movedto its lower extreme position in said vertical plane except when saidshaft occupies one or the other of its extreme positions, and meanseffective when said lever is moved to lower extreme position forconnecting with o. shaft means for biasing said shaft to the ex remeposition which it then occupies and means for retarding movement of saidshaft by biasing means, the combination with the aforeme itionedinstrumentalities of a locking mechanism comprising a lock mechanismcasing, a loci; rod secured to the movable rails of said switch andslidabiy mountedin said casing and provided with a notch, a lockingdevice reciprocably mounted in said casing at right angles to k rod andprovided with alccking plunger which aligns with said .notch when andonly when said switch occupies its normal position, locking device beingmovable between a locking position in which said locking plunger entersthe notch in said lock rod and an unlocking position which said plungeris withdrawn from thenotch in said lock rod, means for biasing saidlocking device to its looking position, means operatively connected withthe outer end of one of the bifurcations of said lever for moving saidlocking device from its locking to its unlockin posit-ion when saidlever is moved from position in said vertical plane, and means actuatedby a train approaching the switch in a trailing direction when theswitch is locked in its normal position for moving said locking de vicefrom its locking position to its unlocking position until after thetrain has compietely passed the switch.

21. In combination, a railway switch, a switch stand comprising a switchstand casing, a vertical switch actuating shaft journaled in said casingand operatively connected with said switch in such manner that saidswitch may be moved between its normal and reverse positions by rotatingsaid shaft between two extreme positions, a lever provided withbifurcations which straddle said shaft, means for pivotally attachingsaid lever to said shaft intermediate the ends of said bifurcations insuch manner that said lever is free to rotate relative to said shaftbetween two extreme positions in a vertical plane but that said shaftmay be rotated between its two extreme positions by rotating said leverabout the axis of said shaft, means for preventing said lever from beingmoved to its lower extreme position in said vertical plane except whensaid shaft occupies one or the other of its extreme positions, meanseffective when said lever is moved to its lower extreme position forconnecting wlth said shaft means for biasing said shaft to the extremeposition which it then occupies and means for retarding movement of saidshaft by said biasing means, the combination with the aforementionedinstrumentalitles of a locking mechanism com rising a lock mechanismcasing, a lock rod secured to the movable rails of said switch andslidably mounted in said casing and provided with a notch, a lockingdevice reciprocably mounted in said casing at right angles to said lockrod and provided with a locking plunger which aligns with said notchwhen and only when said switch occupies its normal position, saidlocking device being movable between a locking position in which saidlocking plunger enters the notch in said lock rod and an unlockingposition in which said plunger is withdrawn from the notch in said lockrod, means for biasing said locking device to its locking position,means operatively connected with the outer end of one of thebifurcations of said lever for moving said locking device from itslocking to its unlocking position when said lever is moved from itslower extreme position to its other extreme position in said verticalplane, means actuated by a train approaching the switch in a trailingdirection when the switch is locked in its normal position for movingsaid locking device from its locking position to its unlocking positionuntil after the train has completely passed the switch, and means forpreventing said locking device from moving to its locking position ifthe switch is moved to its normal position from its reverseposition by atrain trailing the switch.

22. In combination, a railway switch, a-switch stand comprising a switchstand casing, a vertical switch actuating shaft journaled in said casingand operatively connected with said switch in such manner that saidswitch may be moved between its normal and reverse positions by rotatlngsaid shaft between two extreme positions, a lever provided withbifurcations which straddle said shaft, means for pivotally attachingsaid lever to said shaftintermediate the ends .of saidbifurcations insuch manner that said lever is free to rotate relative to said shaftbetween two extreme positions in a vertical plane but thatsaid shaft maybe rotated between its two extreme positions by rotating said leverabout the axis of said shaft, means forpreventing said lever from beingmoved to its lower extreme position in said vertical plane except whensaid shaft occupies one or the other of its extreme positions, meanseffective when, said lever is moved to its lower extreme position forconnecting with said shaft means for biasing said shaft to the extremeposition which it then occupies and means for retarding movement of saidshaft by said biasing means, the combination with the aforementionedinstrumentalities of a locking mechanism comprising a lock mechanismcasing, a lock rod secured to the movable rails of said switch andslidably mounted in said casing and provided with a notch, a lockingdevice reciprocably mounted in said casing at right angles to said lockrod and provided with a locking plunger which aligns with said notchwhen and only when said switch occupies its normal position, saidloclsingcdevice beingmovable between a locking position in which saidlocking plunger enters the notch in said lock rod andvan unlockingposition in which said plunger is withdrawn from the notch in said lockrod, means for biasing said locking device to its locking position,,means operatively connected with the outer end of one of thebifurcations of said lever for moving said locking device from itslooking to its unlocking position when said lever is moved from itslowerextreme position to its other extreme position in said vertical plane,ieans actuated by a train approaching the switch in a trailing directionwhen the switch is looked in its normal position for moving said lockingdevice from its locking position to its unlocking position until afterthe train has completely passed the switch, and means controlled in partby said lock rod for preventing said locking device from moving to itslocking position if the switch is moved to its normal position from itsreverse position by a train trailing the switch. V

23. In combination, a railway switch, a switch stand comprising a switchstand casing, a vertical switch actuating shaft journaled in said casingand operatively connected with said switch in such manner that saidswitch may be moved between its normal and reverse positions .byrotating said shaft between two extreme positions, a lever provided withbifurcations which straddle said shaft, ,means for'pivotally attachingsaid lever to said shaft intermediate the ends of said bifurcations insuch manner that said lever is free to rotate relative to said shaftbetween two extreme positions. in a, vertical plane but that said shaftmay be rotated between its two extreme positionsxby rotating said leverabout the axis of said shaft, means for preventing said lever frombeingmoved to its lower extreme position in said vertical. plane exceptwhen said shaft occupies onevor the other of its extreme positions, andmeans effective when said lever is moved to its lower extreme positionfor connecting with said shaft means for biasing said shaft to, theextreme position which it then occupies and means for-retard-v ingmovement of said shaft by said biasing means, the combination with theaforementioned instrumentalities of a locking mechanism comprising alock mechanism casing, a lock rod secured to the movable rails of saidswitch and slidablyunounted in said casing and provided with a notch, alocking device reciprocably mounted in said casing at right angles tosaid look rod and provided with a locking plunger which aligns with saidnotch when and only when said switch occupies its normal position, saidlocking device being movable between a lockingposition in which saidlocking plunger enters the notch in said lock rod and an unlockingposition in which said plunger is withdrawn from the notch in said lockrod, means for biasing said locking device to its locking position, arockshaft journaled in said casing, acrank arm secured to saidrockshaft, a connecting rod connected with said crank arm and with :oneof the bifurcations of said lever by ball and socket connections,whereby rotation of said lever in said vertical plane will causecorresponding rotation of said rockshaft, a roller secured to saidlocking device, a cam secured to said rockshaft and cooperating withsaid roller in such manner that when said rockshaft is rotated inresponse to movement of said lever from its lower extreme position toits other extreme position said cam will engage said roller and movesaid locking device in opposition to its bias from its locking positionto its unlocking position, a tie rod connecting the movable rails of theswitch at a point approximately midway between the heel and the point ofthe switch, and linkage connecting said tie rod and said locking deviceso designed that when the switch; occupies its. normal position and atrain trails the switch the lateral bending of the movable rails whichtakes place before a force is developed at the points of these railswhich is sufiioient to overcome the force of the biasing means tendingto hold the points of the rails in their normal positions will causesaid locking plunger to be moved from its looking to its unlockingposition.

24. In combination, a railway switch, a switch stand comprising a switchstand casing, a vertical'switch actuating shaft journaled in said casingand operatively connected with said switch in such. manner that saidswitch may be moved between its normal and reverse positions by rotatingsaid shaft between two extreme positions, a lever providedwithbifurcations which straddle said shaft, means for pivotally attachingsaid lever to said shaft intermediate the ends of said bifurcations insuch manner that said lever is free to rotate relative to said shaftbetween two extreme positions in a vertical plane but that said shaftmay be rotated between its two extreme positions by rotating said leverabout the axis of said shaft, means for preventing said lever from beingmoved to its lower extreme position in said vertical plane except whensaid shaft occupies one or the other of its extreme positions, and meanseffective when said lever is moved to its lower extreme position forconnecting with said shaft means for biasing said shaft to the extremeposition which it then occupies and means for retarding movement of saidshaft by said biasing means, the combination with the aforementionedinstrumentalities of a locking mechanism comprising alockmechanismcasing, a lock rod secured to the movable rails of said switch andslidably mounted in said casing and provided with .a notch and with arecess, a locking device reciprocably mounted in said casing at rightangles to said lock rod and provided with a'locking plunger which alignswith said notch to j:

when and only when said switch occupies its normal position, saidlocking device being movable between a locking position in which saidlocking plunger enters the notch in said lock rod and an unlockingposition in which said plunger is withdrawn from the notch in said lockrod, means for biasing said locking device to its locking position, arockshaft journaled in said casing, a crank arm secured to saidrockshaft, a connecting rod connected with said crank arm and with oneof the bifurcations of said lever by ball and socket connections,whereby rotation of said lever in said vertical plane will causecorresponding rotation of said rockshaft, a roller secured to saidlocking device, a cam secured to said rockshaft and cooperating withsaid roller in such manner that when said rockshaft is rotated inresponse to movement of said lever from its lower extreme position toits other extreme position said cam will engage said roller and movesaid locking device in opposition to its bias from its locking positionto its unlocking position, means operatively connected with the outerend of one of .jthe bifurcations of said lever for moving said lockingdevice from its locking to its unlocking position when said lever ismoved from its lower extreme position to its other extreme position insaid vertical plane, a tie rod connecting the movable rails or" theswitch at a point approximately midway between the heel and the point ofthe switch, linkage connecting said tie rod and said locking device sodesigned that when the switch occupies its normal position and a traintrails the switch the lateral bending of the movable rails which takesplace before a force is developed at the points of these rails which issuflicient to overcome the force of the biasing means tending to holdthe points of the ';rails in their normal positions will cause saidlocking plunger to be moved from its locking to its unlocking position,a pivoted latch movable between a normal and a latching position, a,

latch plunger operatively connected with said 'latch and cooperatingwith the recess in said lock rod in such manner that said plunger isfree to enter said recess when and only when the movable rails of theswitch occupy their reverse positions or are within a predetermineddistance of their reverse positions, means for biasing said latchplunger to the position in which it enters said recess, the parts beingso proportioned that said latch will be moved to its normal or itslatching position according as said latch plunger is in or out of saidrecess,

and a latch finger secured to said locking device and cooperating withsaid latch for preventing said locking device from being moved to itslocking position by the associated biasing means in the event that theswitch is moved to its normal position from its reverse position by atrain trailing the switch.

25. In combination with a railway switch of the type which is adapted tobe trailed, a switch stand including a manually operable leveroperatively connected with the switch for moving the switch between itstwo extreme positions, lock mechanism eifective after the switch hasbeen moved to one extreme position by said lever for positively lockingsaid switch in said one extreme position for facing point moves over theswitch, means effective when said switch occupies said one extremeposition and a train trails the switch for actuating said lock mechanismto unlock the switch until after the train has completely trailed theswitch, and means for connecting said lever with said lock mechanism insuch manner that when said lever is operated to move the switch fromsaid one extreme position to the other extreme position said lockmechanism will be automatically operated to unlock the switch.

26. In combination with a railway switch of the type which is adapted tobe trailed, a switch stand including a manually operable leveroperatively connected with the switch for moving the switch between itstwo extreme positions, lock mechanism separate from said switch standand effective after the switch has been moved to one extreme position bysaid lever for positively locking said switch in said one extremeposition for facing point moves over the switch, means efifective whensaid switch occupies said one extreme position and a train trails theswitch for actuating said lock mechanism to unlock the switch untilafter the train has completely trailed the switch, and a connecting rodconnecting said lock mechanism and said lever in such manner that whensaid lever is operated to move the switch from said one extreme positionto the other extreme position said lock mechanism will be automaticallyoperated to unlock the switch.

27. The combination with a railway switch and a switch stand having amanually operable lever operatively connected with the switch androtatable in one plane for moving the switch between its normal andreverse positions and rotatable in another plane for connecting with theswitch and disconnecting from the switch devices for biasing the switchto its extreme positions and a device for retarding movement of theswitch by said biasing devices, of a separate lock mechanism comprisinga locking device movable between a locking and an unlocking position andeffective when in its locking position for locking the switch in itsnormal position, biasing means for biasing said locking device to itslocking position, means mechanically actuated by a train trailing theswitch when the switch occupies its normal position for moving saidlocking device from its locking to its unlocking position, and meansoperatively connecting said locking device and the manually operablelever of said switch stand in such manner that when said lever isactuated to disconnect said biasing and buffing devices from said switchsaid locking device will be moved from its locking to its unlockingposition.

28. The combination with a railway switch andaswitch stand having amanually operable lever rotatable in one plane for moving the switchbetween its normal and reverse positions and rotatable in another planefor simultane ously connecting with the switch and disconnecting fromthe switch devices for biasing the switch to its extreme positions and adevice for retarding movement of the switch by said biasing devices, ofa separate lock mechanism comprising a locking device movable between alooking and an unlocking position and effective when in its lockingposition for locking the switch in its normal position, biasing meansfor biasing said locking device to its locking position, meansmechanically actuated by a train trailing the;

such manner that when said' lever is actuated to disconnect said biasingand bufiing devices from said switch said locking device willbe movedfrom its looking to its unlocking position, and means for preventingsaid locking device from moving to its locking position if the switch ismoved to its normal position from its reverse position by a traintrailing the switch.

29. In combination with a railway switch, a switch stand for moving theswitch between its normal and reverse positions, biasing devicesincluded in said switch stand and effective when said switch is moved toeither its normal or its reverse position for biasing the switch to theposition which it then occupies, a buffing device included in saidswitch stand and effective for preventing too rapid movement of saidswitch by said biasing devices, the combination with the aforementionedinstrumentalities, of lock mechanism effective when the switch is movedto its normal position for normally locking the switch in this position,means actuated by a train approaching the switch in a trailing directionwhen the switch is locked in its normal position for actuating said lockmechanism to unlock the switch until after the train has completelytrailed the switch, and means for connecting said lock mechanism withsaid switch stand in such manner that when said switch is operated tomove the switch from its normal position to its reverse position saidlock mechanism will be automatically actuatedto unlock the switch priorto movement of the switch.

30. In combination with a spring switch, man ually operable means formoving the switch between its normal and reverse positions, a lock rodconnected with the movable rails of said switch and provided with anotch, a locking plunger adapted to align with the notch in said lockrod when and only when the switch occupies its normal position andmovable between a locking position in which said plunger enters thenotch in said lock rod and an unlocking position in which said plungeris withdrawn from the notch in said lock rod, means for constantlybiasing said locking plunger to its locking position, means for movingsaid looking plunger from its locking to its unlocking position prior tomovement of said switch from its normal to its reverse position by saidmanually operable means, means actuated by a train approaching theswitch in a trailing direction when the switch occupies its normalposition for moving said locking plunger from its locking position toits unlocking position until after the train has completely trailed theswitch, and means for preventing said locking plunger from moving to itslocking position in the event the switch is moved to its normal positionfrom its reverse position by a train trailing the switch.

31. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaftmovable between two extreme positions and operatively connected with theswitch for moving the switch between its normal and reverse positions, astar block rotatable about said shaft, means connected with said starblock for biasing said star block to one position and for retardingmovement of said star block by said biasing means, a manually operablelever rotatable in two planes, means responsive to rotation of saidlever in one of said planes for rotating said switch actuating shaftbetween its two extreme positions, means responsive .to rotation of saidlever in the other plane for connecting and disconnecting said starblock from said switch actuating shaft, a lock rod connected with theswitch to move therewith and provided with a notch, a locking plungeradapted to align with the notch in said lock rod when and only when theswitch occupies its normal position and movable between a lockingposition in which said locking plunger enters the notch in said look rodand an unlocking position in which said locking plunger is withdrawnfrom the notch in said lock rod, means for constantly biasing saidlocking plunger to its locking position, means for moving said lockingplunger to its unlocking position in opposition to its bias wheneversaid star block becomes disconnected from said switch actuatingshaft-means connected with said locking plunger and adapted to beactuated by a train trailing the switch when the switch occupies itsnormal position for moving said locking plunger from its locking to itsunlocking position, and means effective when said star block isconnected with said switch actuating shaft for preventing said lockingplunger from moving to its locking position in the event that the switchis moved to its normal position from its reverse position by a trailingtrain.

32. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaftmovable between two extreme positions and operatively connected with theswitch for moving the'switch between its normal and reverse positions, astar block rotatable about said shaft, means connected with said starblock for biasing said star block to one position and for retardingmovement of said star block by said biasing means, a manually operablelever rotatable in two planes, means responsive to rotation of saidlever in one of said planes for rotating said switch actuating shaftbetween its two extreme positions, means responsiveto rotation of saidlever in the other plane for connecting and disconnecting said starblock from said switch actuating shaft, a lock rod connected with theswitch to move therewith and provided with a notch, a locking plungeradapted to align with the notch in said lock rod when and only when theswitch occupies its normal position and movable between a lockingposition in which said locking plunger enters the notch in said lock rodand an unlocking position in which said locking plunger is withdrawnfrom the notch in said lock rod, means for constantly biasing saidlocking plunger to its locking position, means for moving said lockingplunger to its unlocking position in opposition to its bias wheneversaid star block becomes disconnected from said switch actuating shaft,means connected with said locking plunger and adapted to be actuated bya train trailing the switch when the switch occupies its normal positionfor moving said locking plunger from. its looking to its unlockingposition, and means for preventing said locking plunger from moving toits locking position except when said star block occupies said oneposition.

33. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaftmovable between two extreme positions and operatively connected with theswitch for moving the switch between its normal and reverse positions, astar block rotatable about said shaft, means connected with saidstar-block for biasing said star block to one position, a manuallyoperable lever rotatable in two planes, means responsive to rotation ofsaid lever in one of said planes for rotating said switch actuatingshaft between its two extreme positions, means responsive to rotation ofsaid lever in the other plane for connecting and disconnecting said starblock from said switch actuating shaft, a lock rod connected with theswitch to move therewith and provided with a notch, a locking plungeradapted to align with the notch in said lock rod when and only when theswitch occupies its normal position and movable between a lockingposition in which said locking plunger enters the notch in said lock rodand an unlocking position in which said locking plunger is withdrawnfrom the notch in said lock rod, means for constantly biasing saidlocking plunger to its locking position, means for moving said lockingplunger to its unlocking position in opposition to its bias wheneversaid star block becomes disconnected from said switch actuating shaft,means connected with said locking plunger and adapted to be actuated bya train trailing the switch when the switch occupies its normal positionfor moving said locking plunger from its looking to its unlockingposition, and means effective when said star block is connected withsaid switch actuating shaft for preventing said locking plunger frommoving to its locking position in the event that the switch is moved toits normal position from its reverse position by a trailing train.

HERBERT L. BONE.

CERTEFICATE OF CORRECTMN.

Patent No. 1,976,829. October 16, 1934.

HERBERT L. BONE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof ihe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 7,strike out iines 108 to 118 inciusive, comprising claim 1; and page 13,strike out lines '63 to 82 inclusive, comprising claim 25. The claimsnow appearing in thepatent as numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1G, 11,i2, 13, 14, i5, l6, l7, i8, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,31, 32 and 33, should hear he numbers respeeively 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, ll, 12, 13, 14, 15, l6, 17, 18, i 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,27, 28, 29, 30 and 31; and that the said Letters iatent should be readwith these corrections herein the: the same may conform to the record ofthe case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 131?: day of November, A. 13-. i934.

Les l ie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

